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“You’re fucking kidding me.”
“Considering Ash practically collapsed getting offstage to tell me? No. Not kidding. Claire’s partner is a designer and is going to fix the nest. Someone has to be there to meet her in an hour.”
Gabriel turned to Roman. “I can’t leave. After the show I have to present the bouquets.”
“I’ll go. Someone with an artistic brain should be there to help.” He smirked.
I shook my head with a laugh. “Okay, asshole.”
He was instantly serious again. “Is she okay?”
“I haven’t seen her. I can’t imagine dancing while going through pre-heat is comfortable.”
Gabe sighed, looking past me to where our Omega danced once more. “I understand why she stayed, even if I want to spank her for it. Debuting on a season opener…”
We all understood it. Didn’t mean we agreed with it. I handed Roman the piece of paper with Addison’s number.
“I do wish I could see the rest of it,” Roman said.
“We’re recording this one.” Gabe set his hand on Roman’s shoulder. “You’ll be able to see it anytime.”
“Good.”
“She’s going to appreciate this, Roman,” I said. “She’s going to love it.”
“Stay for the rest of the act at least, and then head over to meet her.”
The three of us turned back to face the stage, where Sloane was front and center. Her dancing looked effortless. And it was so much more impressive now that we knew she was dancing through more than the normal amount of pain.
She was beautiful and strong as hell.
I couldn’t wait to spend the next few days making her believe it just as much as we did.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
________
SLOANE
Ilost myself in the dance, playing the part of a love struck girl with a weak heart. Asher’s hands on me burned, but not as hot as I did.
Performing under stage lights was already hot. With my heat rising, I was onfire. A being made entirely from it. There wasn’t room for anything other than the steps and my character.
I took the pain raking through my gut and turned it into the pain Giselle felt when she overextended herself, and further, when she had her heart broken. Ash locked eyes with me, and in his eyes I saw the wordsI love youeven as I fell, allowing him to catch me as I died in his arms.
It wasn’t scripted, but Ash kissed my limp form, gathering me up with what felt like genuine agony before the curtain fell.
He didn’t wait, scooping me up off the floor and carrying me offstage to my dressing room. “Talk to me, blue.”
What could I say? Pain and nausea gripped me like a hand squeezing around my stomach and ribs. I burned from the inside like a fuse, ready to explode at a moment’s notice.
Claire pushed her way into the dressing room with us. “Give us a second, Asher. I’ll help get her into the act two costume and makeup.”
“I can help.”
I heard the gentleness in her tone. “I know you can. But her being near you isn’t going to make any of this easier.”
He cursed, but set me down on the chair. “You’re doing so well, sweetheart. Fucking stunning. I’ll be right outside, okay?”
